Consider the following statements with regard to the Constituent Assembly :

(i) The idea of a constituent assembly was put forward for the first time by Jawaharlal Nehru

(ii) Total strength of the assembly was 389

(iii) Mahatma Gandhi was a member of the Constituent Assembly Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

Kerala PSC Common Preliminary Exam (GRADUATE LEVEL) PYP 38-24

Answer 1

Key Points

Statement (i) is Incorrect:
The idea of a Constituent Assembly was first proposed by M. N. Roy in 1934, not Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Indian National Congress (INC) officially demanded it in 1935, and Jawaharlal Nehru strongly supported it later.
The British government accepted the idea in the August Offer of 1940, and elections for the assembly were held in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Statement (ii) is Correct:
The total strength of the Constituent Assembly was 389 members.
Composition:
292 members from British Indian Provinces (elected indirectly by Provincial Legislative Assemblies).
93 members from Princely States (nominated).
4 representatives from Chief Commissioner’s Provinces.
After the Partition of India in 1947, the Muslim League withdrew, and the total strength was reduced to 299.
Statement (iii) is Incorrect:
Mahatma Gandhi was NOT a member of the Constituent Assembly.
He chose to stay out and focused on the freedom movement and social reforms.
Other notable leaders not in the Assembly included Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Sardar Patel (initially).

Important Points

First meeting: 9 December 1946, presided over by Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha (Temporary President).
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected Permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.
Drafting Committee:
Chairman: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Father of the Indian Constitution).
Other members: K. M. Munshi, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, B. L. Mitter, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Mohammad Saadullah, and D. P. Khaitan.
Adoption of Constitution: 26 November 1949 (Constitution Day).
Came into effect: 26 January 1950 (Republic Day).

Additional Information

Women in the Constituent Assembly:
Sarojini Naidu, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Hansa Mehta, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit were among the 15 women members.
Languages Used:
Proceedings were conducted in English and Hindi.
Total Time Taken:
The Constituent Assembly met for 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days.
Held 11 sessions covering 165 days.
Total Articles & Schedules in 1950:
395 Articles and 8 Schedules in the original Constitution (now it has 470 Articles and 12 Schedules).